Novel component in the hedgehog signalling pathway

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a novel human patched-like gene (PTCH2), which for the first time has been cloned and sequenced. Several alternatively spliced mRNA forms of PTCH2 have been identified, including transcripts lacking segments thought to be involved in sonic hedgehog (SHH) binding and mRNAs with differentially defined 3′ terminal exons. Further, the invention also relates to the protein encoded by the present PTCH2 as well as to functional analogues and variants thereof.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to novel molecules, such as proteins, polypeptides and nucleotides, involved in the hedgehog signalling pathway with putative involvement in embryonic development and carcinogenesis. The invention also relates to various novel advantageous uses of the molecules according to the invention, e.g. in diagnosis and therapy.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In the study of the development of cells, fruit flies have extensively been used as a model, as they are less complex than mammalian cells.

[0003] Pattern formation takes place through a series of logical steps, reiterated many times during the development of an organism. Viewed from a broader evolutionary perspective, across species, the same sort of reiterative pattern formations are seen. The central dogma of pattern formation has been described (Lawrence and Struhl, 1996). Three interlocking and overlapping steps are defined. Firstly, positional information in the form of morphogen gradients allocate cells into non-overlapping sets, each set founding a compartment. Secondly, each of these compartments acquire a genetic address, as a result of the function of active “selector” genes, that specify cell fate within a compartment and also instruct cells and their descendents how to communicate with cells in neighboring compartments. The third step involves interactions between cells in adjacent compartments, initiating new morphogen gradients, which directly organize the pattern.

[0004] Taking these steps in greater detail, one finds the first step in patterning to be the definition of sets of cells in each primordium. Cells are allocated according to their positions with respect to both dorsoventral and anterior/posterior axes by morphogen gradients. Allocation of cells in the dorsoventral axis constitutes the germ layers, such as mesoderm or neurectoderm.

[0005] In segmentation, the second step (the specification of cell fate in each compartment) is carried out by the gene engrailed and elements of the bithorax complex. Engrailed defines anterior and posterior compartments both in segmentation and in limb specification.

[0006] The third step in pattern formation, secretion of morphogens, functions to differentiate patterns within compartments (and thereby establish segment polarity). Initially, all cells within a compartment are equipotent, but they become diversified to form pattern. Pattern formation depends on gradients of morphogens, gradients initiated along compartment boundaries. Such gradients are established by a short-range signal induced in all the cells of the compartment in which the above mentioned selector gene engrailed is active. For segment polarity, this signal is Hedgehog. In the adjacent compartment the selector gene is inactive, ensuring that the cells are sensitive to the signal. The Hedgehog signal range is probably only a few rows of cells wide; responding cells become a linear source of a long-range morphogen, that diffuses outward in all directions. There are three known Hedgehogs, Sonic (SHH), Indian (IHH) and Desert (DHH). The proteins they encode can substitute each for each other, but in wildtype animals, their distinct distributions result in unique activities. SHH controls the polarity of limb growth, directs the development of neurons in the ventral neural tube and patterns somities. IHH controls endochondral bone development and DHH is necessary for spermiogenesis. Vertebrate hedgehog genes are expressed in many other tissues, including the peripheral nervous system, brain, lung, liver, kidney, tooth primordia, genitalia and hindgut and foregut endoderm.

[0007] Thus, segment polarity genes have been identified in flies as mutations, which change the pattern of structures of the body segments. Mutations in these genes cause animals to develop the changed patterns on the surfaces of body segments, the changes affecting the pattern along the head to tail axis. For example, mutations in the gene patched cause each body segment to develop without the normal structures in the center of each segment. Instead there is a mirror image of the pattern normally found in the anterior segment. Thus, cells in the center of the segment make the wrong structures, and point them in the wrong direction with reference to the over all head-to-tail polarity of the animal.

[0008] About sixteen genes in the class are known. The encoded proteins include kinases, transcription factors, a cell junction protein, two secreted proteins called wingless (WG) and the above mentioned Hedgehog (HH), a single transmembrane protein called patched (PTC) and some novel proteins not related to any known protein. All of these proteins are beleived to work together in signaling pathways that inform cells about their neighbors in order to set cell fates and polarities.

[0009] PTC has been proposed as a receptor for HH protein based on genetic experiments in flies. A model for the relationship is that PTC acts through a largely unknown pathway to inactivate both its own transcription and the transcription of the wingless segment polarity gene. This model proposes that HH protein, secreted from adjacent cells, binds to the PTC receptor, inactivates it and thereby prevents PTC from turning off its own transcription or that of wingless. A number of experiments have shown coordinate events between PTC and HH.

[0010] Human patched gene (PTCH) was recently identified as the gene responsible for the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), also known as the Gorlin Syndrome, which is an autosomal dominant disorder that predisposes to both cancer and developmental defects (Gorlin (1995) Dermatologic Clinics 13:113-125) characterized by multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), medulloblastomas and ovarian fibromas as well as numerous developmental anomalities (Hahn, H., Wicking, C., Zaphiropoulos, P. G., Gailani, M. R., Shanley, S., Chidambaram, A., Vorechovsky, I., Holmberg, E., Undén, A. B., Gillies, S., Negus, K., Smyth, I., Pressman, C., Leffell, D. J., Gerrard, B., Goldstein, A. M., Dean, M., Toftgård, R., Chenevix-Trench, G., Wainright, B. and Bale, A. E. (1996): “Mutations of the human homolog of Drosophila patched in the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome”, Cell 85, 841-851; and Johnson, R. L., Rothman, A. L., Xie, J., Goodrich, L. V., Bare, J. W., Bonifas, J. M., Quinn, A: G., Myers, R. M., Cox, D. R., Epstein, E. H. Jr and Scott, M. P. (1996): “Human homolog of patched, a candidate gene for the basal cell nevus syndrome”, Science 272, 1668-1671). PTCH codes for a membrane receptor of the autolytically cleaved (protein spliced), amino terminal domain of sonic hedgehog (SHH) (Mariago, V., Davey, R. A., Zuo, Y., Cunningham, J. M. and Tabin, C. J. (1996): “Biochemical evidence that patched is the Hedgehog receptor”, Nature 384, 176-179; and Stone, D. M., Hynes, M., Armanini, M., Swanson, T. A., Gu, Q., Johnson, R. L., Scott, M. P., Pennica, D., Goddard, A., Phillips, H., Noll, M., Hooper, J. E., de Sauvage, F. and Rosenthal, A. (1996): “The tumor-suppressor gene patched encodes a candidate receptor for Sonic hedgehog”, Nature 384, 129-134). In the non-signalling state, PTCH is thought to inhibit the consecutive signalling of another membrane protein, smoothened (SMO), however binding of SHH to PTCH releives this inhibition (Goodrich, L. V., Milenkovic, L., Higgins, K. M. and Scott, M. P. (1997): “Altered neural cell fates and medullablastom in mouse patched mutants”, Science 277, 1109-1113). This cascade of signalling events, best characterized in Drosophila, also involves a number of intracellular components including fused (a serine threonine kinase), suppressor of fused, costal 2, and cubitus interruptus (Ruiz i Altaba, A.,: “Catching a Gli-mpse of Hedgehog” (1997) Cell 90, 193-196). The latter is a transcription factor that positively regulates the expression of target genes which also include PTCH itself.

[0011] Mutations in the PTCH gene have been identified in both sporadic and familial BCCs (Gailani, M. R., Ståhle-Bäckdahl, M., Leffell, D. J., Glynn, M., Zaphiropoulos, P. G., Pressman, C., Undén, A. B., Dean, M., Brash, D. E., Bale, A. E. and Toftgård, R. (1996): “The role of human homologue of Drosophila patched in sporadic basal cell carcinomas” Nature Genet. 14, 78-81). The lack of the normal PTCH protein in these cells allows the constitutive signalling of SMO to occur, resulting in the accumulation of mutant PTCH mRNAs (Undén, B. A., Zaphiropolous, P. G., Bruce, K., Toftgård, R., and Ståhle-Bäckdahl, M. (1997): “Human patched (PTCH) mRNA is overexpressed consistently in tumor cells of both familial and sporadic basal cell carcinoma”, Cancer Res. 57, 2336-2340).

[0012] WO 96/11260 discloses the isolation of patched genes and the use of the PTC protein to identify ligands, other than the established ligand Hedgehog, that bind thereto.

[0013] However, there is still a need of a further understanding of the SHH/PTCH cell signalling, which may be provided by disclosure of further genes, peptides and proteins involved therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention provides a significant step forward regarding the understanding of the above described pathway. By a combination of cDNA library and RACE analysis a novel human patched-like gene (PTCH2) has been cloned and sequenced. Several alternatively spliced mRNA forms of PTCH2 have been ideintified, including transcripts lacking segments thought to be involved in sonic hedgehog (SHH) binding and mRNAs with differentially defined 3′ terminal exons. Accordingly, the invention relates to isolated such mRNAs as well as to cDNAs complementary thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 shows the genomic sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, wherein exons and introns are designated in the genomic sequence of the novel human patched 2 gene.

[0016]FIG. 2A discloses an amino acid sequence comparison of the human PTCH2 (upper lines) and PTCH1 (lower lines) sequences.

[0017]FIG. 2B is a representation of the alternative splicing events that result in different C-termini.

[0018]FIG. 2C is a representation of the different variations of spliced transcripts encompassing exon 1 and exon 2 sequences.

[0019]FIG. 3A is a dark-field photomicrograph of a BCC tumor hybridised with ³⁵S-labeled antisense probe showing abundant signal for PTCH1 mRNA (light grains) in all BCC tumor cells.

[0020]FIG. 3B discloses PTCH2 mRNA overexpression in BCC and is in contrast mainly expressed in the basaloid cells in the periphery of the tumor nests.

[0021]FIG. 3C is another BCC showing a strong PTCH2 mRNA signal in the periphery of the tumor nest (Tu), wheras no signal is detected in epidermis (Ep).

[0022]FIG. 3D are sections of the same tumor (C) hybridised with the PTCH2 sense probe showed no signal.

[0023]FIG. 3E shows immunoreactivity for Ki-67.

[0024]FIG. 3F discloses how tumor nests under high power magnification demonstrate abundant PTCH2 mRNA signal (black grains) in the dark basaloid tumor cells and lower signal in the center (arrow).

[0025] Definitions

[0026] The terms “polypeptide”, “peptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. The terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an artificial chemical analogue of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers.

[0027] The terms “isolated” “purified” or “biologically pure” refer to material which is substantially or essentially free from components which normally accompany it as found in its native state.

[0028] The term “nucleic acid” refers to a deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide polymer in either single- or double-stranded form, and unless otherwise limited, encompasses known analogs of natural nucleotides that can function in a similar manner as naturally occurring nucleotides.

[0029] A “label” is a composition detectable by spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical, immunochemical, or chemical means. For example, useful labels include ³²P, fluorescent dyes, electron-dense reagents, enzymes (e.g., as sommonly used in a ELISA), biotin, dioxigenin, or haptens and proteins for which antisera or mono-clonal antibodies are available (e.g., the peptide of SEQ ID NO:1 can be made detectable, e.g., by incorporating a radio-label into the peptide, and used to detect antibodies specifically reactive with the peptide).

[0030] As used herein a “nucleic acid probe” is defined as a nucleic acid capable of binding to a target nucleic acid of complementary sequence through one or more types of chemical bonds, usually through complementary base pairing, usually through hydrogen bond formation. As used herein, a probe may include natural (i.e. A, G, C, or T) or modified bases (7-deazaguanosine, inosine, etc.) In addition, the bases in a probe may be joined by a linkage other than a phosphodiester bond, so long as it does not interfere with hybridisation. Thus, for example, probes may be peptide nucleic acids in which the constituent bases are joined by peptide bonds rather that phosphodiester linkages. It will be understood by one of skill in the art that probes may bind target sequences lacking complete complementarity with the probe sequence depending upon the stringency of the hybridisation conditions. The probes are preferably directly labeled as with isotopes, chromophores, lumiphore, chromogens, or indirectly labeled such as with biotin to which a streptavidin complex may later bind. By assaying for the presence or absence of the probe, one can detect the presence or absence of the selct sequence or subsequence.

[0031] A “labeled nucleic acid probe” is a nucleic acid probe that is bound, either covalently, through a linker, or through ionic, van der Waals or hydrogen bonds to a label such that the presence of the probe may be detected by detecting the presence of the label bound to the probe.

[0032] The term “target nucleic acid” refers to a nucleic acid (often derived from a biological sample), to which a nucelic acid probe is designed to specifically hybridise. It is either the presence or absence of the target nucleic acid that is to be detected, or the amount of the target nucleic acid that is to be quantified. The target nucleic acid has a sequence that is complementary to the nucleic acid sequence of the corresponding probe directed to the target. The term target nucleic acid may refer to the specific subsequence of a larger nucleic acid to which the probe is directed or to the ovarall sequence (e.g., gene or mRNA) whose expression level it is desired to detect. The difference in usage will be apparent from context.

[0033] The term “recombinant” when used with reference to a cell, or nucleic acid, or vector, indicates that the cell, or nucleic acid, or vector, has been modified by the introduction of a heterologous nucleic acid or the alteration of a native nucleic acid, or that the cell is derived from a cell so modified.

[0034] The term “identical” in the context of two nucleic acids or polypeptide sequences refers to the residues in the two sequences which are the same when aligned for maximum correspondence. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorith of Smith and Waterman (1981) Adv. Appl. Math. 2: 482, by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443, by the search for similarity method of Pearson and Lipman (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85: 2444, by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, GESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.) or by inspection. The BLAST algorithm performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences; see e.g., Karlin and Altschul (1993) Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 90: 5873-5787.

[0035] The term “substantial identity” or “substantial similarity” in the context of a polypeptide indicates that a polypeptides comprises a sequence with at least 70% sequence identity to a reference sequence, or preferably 80%, or more preferably 85% sequence identity to the reference sequence, or most preferably 90% identity over a comparison window of about 10-20 amino acid residues. An indication that two polypeptide sequences are substantially identical is that one peptide is immunologically reactive with antibodies raised against the second peptide. Thus, a polypeptide is substantially identical to a second polypeptide, for example, where the two peptides differ only by a conservative substitution.

[0036] An indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that the polypeptide which the first nucleic acid encodes is immunologically cross reactive with the polypeptide encoded by the second nucleic acid. Another indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that the two molecules hybridise to each other under stringent conditions.

[0037] The phrase “hybridising specifically to”, refers to the binding, duplexing, or hybridising of a molecule only to a particular nucleotide sequence under stringent conditions when that sequence is present in a complex mixture (e.g., total cellular) DNA or RNA. The term “stringent conditions” refers to conditions under which a probe will hybridise to its target subsequence, but to no other sequences. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will be different in different circumstances. Longer sequences hybridise specifically at higher temperatures. Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5° C. lower than the thermal melting point ^(TM) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. The Tm is the temperature (under defined ionic strength, pH, and nucleic acid concentration) at which 50% of the probes complementary to the target sequence hybridise to the target sequence at equilibrium. (As the target sequences are generally present in excess, at Tm, 50% of the probes are occupies at equilibrium). Typically, stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.0 M Na ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30° C. for whort probes (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotides) and at least about 60° C. for long probes (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides). Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide.

[0038] The term “antibody” refers to a polypeptide substantially encoded by an immunoglobulin gene or immunoglobulin genes, or fragments thereof which specifically bind and recognize an analyte (antigen).

[0039] A “chimeric antibody” is an antibody molecule in which (a) the constant region, or a portion thereof, is altered, replaced or exchanged so that the antigen binding site (variable region) is linked to a constant region of a different or altered class, effector function and/or species, or an entirely different molecule which confers new properties to the chimeric antibody, e.g., an enzyme, toxin, hormone, growth factor, drug, etc.; or (b) the variable region, or a portion thereof, is altered, replaced or exchanged with a variable region having a different or altered antigen specificity.

[0040] The term “immunoassay” is an assay that utilizes an antibody to specifically bind an analyte. The immunoassay is characterized by the use of specific binding properties of a particular antibody to isolate, target, and/or quantify the analyte.

[0041] The phrases “specifically binds to a protein” or “specifically immunoreactive with”, when referring to an antibody refers to a binding reaction which is determinative of the presence of the protein in the presence of a heterogeneous population of proteins and other biologics. Thus, under designated immunoassay conditions, the specified antibodies bind preferentially to a particular protein and do not bind in a significant amount to other proteins present in the sample. Specific binding to a protein under such conditions requires an antibody that is selected for its specificity for a particular protein. A variety of immunoassay formats may be used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a particular protein. For example, solid-phase ELISA immunoassays are routinely used to select monoclonal antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a protein. See harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbour Publications, New York, for a description of immunoassay formats and conditions that can be used to determine specific immunoreactivity.

[0042] A “gene product”, as used herein, refers to a nucleic acid whose presence, absence, quantity, or nucleic acid sequence is indicative of a presence, absence, quantity, or nucleic acid composition of the gene. Gene products thus include, but are not limited to, and mRNA transcript acDNA reverse transcribed from an mRNA, and RNA transcribed from that cDNA, a DNA amplified from the cDNA, an RNA transcribed from the amplified DNA or subsequences of any of these nucleic acids. Polypeptides expressed by the gene or subsequences thereof are also gene products. The particular type of gene product will be evident from the context of the usage of the term.

[0043] A “modified drug” means a compound, which retains the pharmaceutical properties of the original drug or active substance while the structure thereof has been modified. Further, encompassed by the term “drug” are also compounds useful in diagnostic methods by their specific binding properties.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an isolated human protein, or an analogue or a variant thereof, capable of participating in the human PTCH/SHH pathway during embryonic development and/or carcinogenesis, such as basal cell carcinoma. The novel protein according to the invention is encoded by a novel gene, which isolated nucleic acid is described in detail below and which is denoted patched 2 (PTCH2) due to its similarities with patched 1 (PTCH1). Accordingly, the protein according to the invention exhibits substantial differences in sequence and functions when compared to human PTCH1protein. The protein according to the invention is best characterized by its functions which when compared to human PTCH1 are similar but distinct therefrom in certain ways, more specifically disclosed below in the section “Results and discussion”. The novel human PTCH2 protein according to the invention is also distinct from the previously isolated mouse PTCH2. Thus, in the preferred embodiment thereof, it comprises a substantial part of the amino acid sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 1 and submitted to the GenBank under protein id no AAD17260.1. even though it is to be understood that the present invention encompasses any fragment, analogue or variant thereof exhibiting the biological functions of the PTCH2 protein disclosed herein. Thus, preferably, the present protein comprises at least about 1000, more preferably at least about 1040 and most preferably essentially all of the amino acids of the sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 1, such as about 1100.

[0045] The proteins according to the invention are easily prepared by someone skilled in this field by recombinant DNA techniques using the molecules disclosed below or any synthetic method (see e.g. Barany and Merrifield, Solid-Phase Peptide synthesis, pp. 3-284 in The Peptides: Analysis, Synthesis, Biology, Vol. 2: Special Methods in Peptide synthesis, Part A, Merrifield et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2149-2156).

[0046] The present invention also relates to the use of the peptides, polypeptides and proteins disclosed herein as lead compounds in methods aimed at finding novel substances, i.e. modified drugs, such as substances exhibiting equivalent or even more advantageous properties than the lead compounds as such. Such modified drugs may also be designed by methods of combinatorial chemistry, wherein a structurally similar compound is specifically designed e.g. by aid of computers. Alternatively, the present modified drug is identidied by screening of a library of candidate compounds, e.g. using an antibody according to the invention. In the present context, it is to be understood that when such a modified drug has been identified, it is possible to produce it by any other suitable technique. The invention also relates to proteomic methods wherein the present molecules are used as well as to such a use per se.

[0047] A second aspect of the present invention is a nucleic acid encoding a protein, an analogue or a variant thereof as defined above, that is, the protein coding region of the novel human isolated PTCH2 gene. The PTCH2 gene is 57% identical to PTCH1 and 91% identical to the published mouse Ptch2 sequence (see Motoyama et al., (1998), supra). Thus, preferably, the nucleic acid according to the present invention comprises at least about 3000 bases, more preferably at least about 3094 bases and most preferably essentially all of the sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0048] In a specific aspect, the present invention relates to the isolated human genomic PTCH2 nucleic acid comprising parts or all of the genomic sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 5. In the disclosure of the genomic sequence shown in FIG. 1, the exon/intron structure of the present gene is shown. Further to the exons shown therein, exon 12a and 12b has also been identified, as specifically defined by SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4, respectively. Interestingly, there is a splice variant that joins exon 12a to a 3′ segment of exon 12b with conservation of the intronic GT-AG dinucleotides. Exons 12a and 12b are not variants, but the actual exons of the gene identified by sequencing the corresponding genomic region. (Materials and methods were as discribed beloow). Accordingly, these findings show that PTCH2 has the same intron/exon structure organization as PTCH1. In another embodiment of this aspect, the present invention relates to a transcript that has skipped only one of the exons 9 and 10 defined in FIG. 1. In an alternative embodiment, the transcript according to the invention has skipped both of exon 9 and 10. The splice variants of the present gene are discussed in more detail below in the section “Results”, all of which are included within the scope of the present invention. This aspect of the invention advantageously enables design of suitable PCR primers, which in turn enables screening for mutations of all of the coding sections thereof, e.g. by SSCP analysis, sequencing, or any other suitable method known to someone skilled in this field. Thus, the novel human PTCH2 gene according to the invention has been localized by radiation hybrid mapping to chromosome 1 p32-35 with D1S211 and WI-1404 as closest flanking markers and with an estimated localization 5.5cR from D1S443. This region is often lost by LOH in various different tumor types, such as neuroblastoma, melanoma, breast cancer, colon cancer etc. Accordingly, PTCH2 is a candidate for a tumor suppressor gene in this region and the present invention also encompass diagnostic methods based on this new disclosure.

[0049] To this chromosomal region, three cancer predisposition syndromes have also been mapped, namely, familial melanoma CMM1, modifier locus for familial adenomatous polyposis hMom1 and Michelin Tire Baby Syndrome. PTCH2 is further a candidate for the gene behind these heritary syndromes. The present molecules are therefore advantageously used in the context of these conditions, e.g. in therapy and/or diagnosis, such as in assays.

[0050] Further, the invention also relates to various PCR primers based on intronic sequences, allowing amplification of all coding sequence. Such primers are advantageously used for mutation screening.

[0051] Further, the present invention also relates to the any isolated nucleic acid capable of specifically hybridising to a nucleic acid according to the invention. In addition, the invention also relates to such an isolated nucleic acid which comprises one o more mutations compared to the genomic sequence as well as the use of the novel isolated nucleic acids, e.g. to identify mutations for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes.

[0052] Further embodiments of this aspect of the invention includes nucleic acid probes, e.g. DNA probes, labelled nucleic acids, cDNAs, RNAs etc., that is, all gene products obtainable by someone skilled in this field based on the novel isolated human PTCH2 gene.

[0053] Another aspect of the invention is a nucleic acid corresponding to any one of the splicing variants disclosed in FIG. 2B, a protein or polypeptide encoded thereof as well as various uses thereof.

[0054] As regards the preparation of nucleic acids according to the invention, any suitable recombinant DNA technique or synthetic method may be used. (For general laboratory procedures useful in this context, see e.g. Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) ed., Vol. 1-3, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989; Berger and Kimmel, Guide to Molecular Cloning Techniques, Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 153, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif.; Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. M. Ausbel et al., eds., Current Protocols (1994)).

[0055] A further aspect of the present invention is a vector comprising a nucleic acid as defined above. Vectors are e.g. useful for transforming cells in vitro or in vivo to express the proteins and peptides according to the invention and may e.g be plasmids, viruses etc.

[0056] Another aspect of the invention is a recombinant cell, such as a eucaryotic, e.g. a mammalian cell, or a procaryotic cell, e.g. a bacteria, comprising a vector as defined above. Such cells may e.g. be used to monitor expression levels of the proteins and polypeptides according to the invention in a wide variety of contexts. For example, when the effects of a drug is to be determined, the drug will be administered to the transformed organism, tissue or cell. Accordingly, model systems including such cells are another aspect of the invention.

[0057] A further aspect of the invention is an antibody, such as a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody, which specifically binds to a protein or polypeptide according to the invention. An exemplary immunoglobulin (antibody) structural unit comprises a tetramer. Each tetramer is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one “light” (about 25 kD) and one “heavy” chain (about 50-70 kD). The N-terminus of each chain defines a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids primarily responsible for antigen recognition. The terms variable light chain (V_(L)) and variable haeavy chain (V_(H)) refer to these light and heavy chains, respectively.

[0058] The invention also encompasses chimeric or other antibodies that binds the present proteins or polypeptides. Further, the invention also relates to the use of the present antibodies in assays. (In this context, see e.g. Fundamental Immunology, Third Edition, W. E. Paul, ed., Raven Press, N. Y. 1993).

[0059] Further, the invention also relates to a recombinant cell expressing an antibody according to the invention.

[0060] In general, prokaryotes can be used for cloning the DNA sequences encoding a human anti-PTCH2 immunoglobulin chain. E. coli is one prokaryotic host particularly useful for cloning the DNA sequences of the present invention. Microbes, such as yeast are also useful for expression. Saccharomyces is a preferred yeast host, with suitable vectors having expression control sequences, an origin of replication, termination sequences and the like as desired. Typical promoters include 3-phosphoglycerate kinase and other glycolytic enzymes. Inducible yeast promoters include, among others, promoters from alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C, and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization.

[0061] Mammalian cells are a particularly preferred host for expressing nucleotide segments encoding immunoglobulins or fragments thereof (see, e.g. Winnacker, From Genes to Clones, VCH Publishers, N.Y., 1987). A number of suitable host cell lines capable of secreting intact heterologous proteins have been developed in the art, and include CHO cell lines, various COS cell lines, HeLa cells, L cells and myeloma cell lines. Preferably, the cells are nonhuman. Expression vectors for these cells can include expression control sequences, such as an origin of replication, a promoter, an enhancer (Queen et al. (1986) Immunol. Rev. 89:49), and necessary processing information sites, such as ribosome binding sites, RNA splice sites, polyadenylation sites, and transcriptional terminator sequences. Preferred expression control sequences are promoters derived from endogenous genes, cytomegalovirus, SV40, adenovirus, bovine pappillomavirus, and the like (see, e.g., Co et al. (1992) J Immunol. 1458: 1149).

[0062] An additional aspect of the present invention is a kit for the detection of a human PTCH2 gene or polypeptide comprising in a container a molecule selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid, a polypeptide or a protein or an antibody according to the invention. Further suitable components of such a kit are easily determined by someone skilled in this field as are the conditions for the use thereof. Further, the invention also realtes to the use of a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2-4 and SEQ ID NO: 5 in gene therapy. In addition to said specifically disclosed sequences, any one of the herein disclosed exons may be used to this end. For a review of gene therapy procedures, see Anderson, Science (1992) 256:808-813; Nabel and Felgner (1993) TIBTECH 11: 211-217; Mitani and Caskey (1993) TIBTECH 11: 162-166; Mulligan (1993) Science 926-932; Dillon (1993) TIBTECH 11: 167-175; Miller (1992) Nature 357: 455-460; Van Brunt (1988) Biotechnology 6(10): 1149-1154; Vigne (1995) Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience 8: 35-36; Kremer and Perricaudet (1995) British Medical Bulletin 51(1) 31-44; Haddada et al. (1995) in Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology Doerfler and Böhm (eds) Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg Germany; and Yu et al., Gene Theraphy(1994) 1:13-26.

[0063] Delivery of the gene or genetic material into the cell is the first critical step in gene therapy treatment of disease. A large number of delivery methods are well known to those of skill in the art. Such methods include, for example liposome-based gene delivery (Debs and Zhu (1993) WO 93/24640; Mannino and Gould-Fogerite (1988) BioTechniques 6(7): 682-691; Rose U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,833; Brigham (1991) WO 91/06309; and Felgner et al. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 7413-7414), and replication-defective retroviral vectors harboring a therapeutic polynucleotide uence as part of the retroviral genome (see, e.g., Miller et al. (1990) Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:4239 (1990; Kolberg (1992) J NIH Res. 4:43, and Cometta et al. Hum. Gene Ther. 2:215 (1991)). Widely used retroviral vectors include those based upon nurine leukemia virus (MuLV), gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV), Simian Immuno deficiency virus (SIV), human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), and combinations thereof. See, e.g., Buchscher et al. (1992) J. Virol. 66 (5) 2731-2739; Johann et al. (1992) J. Virol. 66 (5):1635-1640 (1992); Sommerfelt et al., (1990) Virol. 176:58-59; Wilson et al. (1989) J. Virol. 63:2374-2378; Miller et al., J. Virol. 65:2220-2224 (1991); Wong-Staal et al., PCT/US94/05700, and Rosenburg and Fauci (1993) in Fundamental Immunology, Third Edition Paul (ed) Raven Press, Ltd., New York and the references therein, and Yu et al., Gene Therapy (1994) supra).

[0064] The present invention may also be used in the pharmaceutical industry. For example, it will provide information that eventually may enable cells from fetal tissue, which may the be transplanted into patients suffering from e.g. Parkinson's disease or cancer, such as BCC. (For a brief review of methods of drug delivery, see Langer 249:1 527-1533 (1990), Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., 17^(th) ed. (1985) etc.)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065]FIG. 1 shows the genomic sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, wherein exons and introns are designated in the genomic sequence of the present human patched 2 gene. However, exons 12a and 12b discussed above are not specifically shown in FIG. 1, but is instead disclosed as the separate sequences SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4, respectively. FIG. 2A discloses an amino acid sequence comparison of the human PTCH2 (upper lines) and PTCH1 (lower lines) sequences. Vertical lines indicate identical amino acids, while dots similar amino acids. The PTCH2 sequence presented is composed of the original cDNA clones and of the products of the 5′ RACE analysis.

[0066]FIG. 2B is a representation of the alternative splicing events that result in different C-termini. In the parotid gland and the colon, the penultimate and the last exon are canonically joined together. In fetal brain however the penultimate exon with part of the 3′ intron functions as the terminal exon. The intronic sequence is shown by small letters with the flanking exonic by capital letters. Above the nucleotide sequence, the deduced amino acid sequence is shown, and below is the corresponding sequence of the mouse Ptch2. The conserved intronic dinucleotides are shown by bold letters and the termination signals are indicated by asterisks. Note the absence of conservation of the position of the termination codons between the mouse and human PTCH2 sequences. The putative polyadenylation signals are also shown in this diagram. The genomic organization was obtained by analyzing BAC clones encompassing the PTCH2 gene.

[0067]FIG. 2C is a representation of the different variations of spliced transcripts encompassing exon 1 and exon 2 sequences. The canonical exons 1 and 2 are shown by boxes and the intron between them by a solid line. The GT and AG dinucleotides spanning the sequences that are used as introns in individual transcripts are indicated by small letters. G, Genomic structure, derived from sequencing segements of BAC clones encompassing the PTCH2 gene; C, Canonical transcript; A, Transcript A (the skipped exons 9 and 10 of this product are not shown in the diagram); B, Transcript B.

[0068]FIG. 3A is a dark-field photomicrograph of a BCC tumor hybridised with ³⁵S-labeled antisense probe showing abundant signal for PTCH1 mRNA (light grains) in all BCC tumor cells.

[0069]FIG. 3B discloses PTCH2 mRNA overexpression in BCC and is in contrast mainly expressed in the basaloid cells in the periphery of the tumor nests.

[0070]FIG. 3C is another BCC showing a strong PTCH2 mRNA signal in the periphery of the tumor nest (Tu), wheras no signal is detected in epidermis (Ep).

[0071]FIG. 3D are sections of the same tumor (C) hybridised with the PTCH2 sense probe showed no signal.

[0072]FIG. 3E shows immunoreactivity for Ki-67 (brown precipitate) seen in the periphery, in the cells that showed strong upregulation of PTCH2 mRNA.

[0073]FIG. 3F discloses tumor nests under high power magnification demonstrate abundant PATCH2 mRNA signal (black grains) in the dark basaloid tumor cells and lower signal in the center (arrow). Bars (A-E), 24 μm, and F, 6 μm.

[0074] Experimental

[0075] Materials and Methods

[0076] In the present context, a general reference is made to G. Zaphiropoulos et al., Cancer Res., vol. 59, p. 787-792, Feb. 15, 1999, disclosing useful methods in the present context. All references mentioned in the present application are hereby included herein by reference. The examples below are not intended to limit the scope of the invention but merely as an illustration.

[0077] The RACE analysis was performed essentially as described before (Zaphiropoulos, P. G. and Toftgård, R. (1996): “cDNA cloning of a novel WD repeat protein mapping to the 9q22.3 chromosomal region”, DNA Cell Biol. 15, 1049-1056) using the Marathon kit (Promega). The primer sequences used for RACE are available upon request.

[0078] The PTCH2, 35S-labeled RNA probes used for the in situ hybridisations, that were performed as previously described (Undén et al., (1997), supra), corresponded to positions 218 to 437 and 838 to 920 in the PTCH2 sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

[0079] Results and Discussion

[0080] In order to identify additional components of the PTCH/SHH cascade of signalling events, the Incyte LifeSeq™ database (Incyte Pharmaceuticals Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., USA) was searched using PTCH sequences. In addition to clones representing the PTCH cDNA, two nearly identical cDNAs were identified, from the parotid gland and the colon, that contained sequences similar to, but distinct from, the 3′ end of PTCH. By 5′ RACE analysis using fetal brain cDNAs additional sequence information from these transcripts (termed PTCH2) and corresponding to a full length cDNA, was obtained (FIG. 2A). PTCH2 is 57% identical to PTCH1, with a significantly variable region present between the transmembrane domains 6 and 7, and 91% identical to the recently published mouse Ptch2 sequence (Motoyama, J., Takabatake, T., Takeshima, K. and Hui, C. (1998): “Ptch2, a second mouse Patched gene is co-expressed with Sonic hedgehog”, Nature Genet. 18, 104-106). In similarity with the mouse gene, PTCH2 lacks the C-terminal extension present in human, mouse and chicken PTCH1 (Goodrich, L. V., Johnson, R. L., Milenkovic, L., McMahon, J. A., and Scott, M. P. (1996): “Conservation of the hedgehog/patched signalling pathway from flies to mice: Induction of a mouse patched gene by Hedgehog”, Genes Dev. 10, 301-312, Marigo, V., Scott, M. P., Johnson, R. L., Goodrich, L. V. and Tabin, C. J. (1996): “Conservation in hedgehog signalling: Induction of a chicken patched homolog by Sonic hedgehog in the developing limb”, Development 122, 1225-1233). However, according to the present invention, it has been shown that the human PTCH2 cDNA terminates 36 amino acids earlier that the mouse Ptch2 sequence. Moreover, when 3′ RACE was perfomed from fetal brain, an alternate C-terminal region was identified. This had a high structural similarity with the mouse Ptch2 C-terminal sequence and originates from the genomic region that links the last two exons of PTCH2 (FIG. 2B ). Therefore, in these alternatively spliced transcripts, the penultimate exon with a segment of the contiguous 3′ intron serves as the terminal exon.

[0081] Moreover the human and mouse transcripts differed in the position of the termination signals (the human sequence is 21 amino acids longer), suggesting a non-conserved, species-specific function of this alternate C-terminal domain. The finding of two possible C-terminal regions for PTCH2 is intriguing and implies a role of this phenomenon in modulating signalling. Additional alternatively spliced transcripts were also identified by the RACE analysis (FIG. 2C ). Transcript A lacks the sequence that corresponds to exons 9 and 10 of PTCH1 (preliminary comparisons of the intron-exon junctions of PTCH2 with PTCH1 indicate a similar genomic organization), with the open reading frame being retained at the exon 8 to exon 11 junction. Exons 9 and 10 code for the last part of the first extracellular loop and for transmembrane domains 2 and 3 in the putative structure of the PTCH1 protein. Furthermore this transcript also lacks a 5′ segment of the canonical exon 2, due to the use of an alternative 3′ splice site present in this exon, with the open reading frame being maintained. The functional consequence of this alternative splicing is not yet known, but it is interesting to note that the extracellular loops in PTCH1 are presumed to be involved in binding of the ligand SHH (Marigo et al., (1996), Nature 384, supra; Stone et al., (1996), Nature 384, supra) and that insertion of a neo-cassette in intron 9 of of the mouse PTCH1 gene is associated with a severe phenotype (Hahn, H., Wojnowski, L., Zimmer, A. M., Hall, J., Miller, G. and Zimmer, A. (1998): “Rhabdomyosarcomas and radiation hypersensitivity in a mouse model of Gorlin syndrome”, Nature Med. 4, 619-622). Furthermore, exons 9 and 10 encode part of a putative sterol sensing domain (Osborne, T. F. and Rosenfeld, J. M. (1998): “Related membrane domains in proteins of sterol sensing and cell signalling provide a glimpse of treasures still buried within the dynamic realm of intracellular metabolic regulation”, Curr. Opin. Lipidol. 9, 137-140, also found in PTCH1, and which has recently been implicated in mediating the potent modulating effect of cholesterol on SHH/PTCH signalling (Cooper, M. K., Porter, J. A., Young, K. E., and Beachy, P. A. (1998): “Teratogen-mediated inhibition of target tissue response to Shh signalling”, Science 280, 1603-1607). Thus, if PTCH2 also serves as a receptor for SHH and/or related factors, the receptor form lacking exons 9 and 10 may show altered signalling properties. Transcript B contains additional sequences between canonical exons 1 and 2, that originate from the 5′ end of intron 1. The open reading frame that includes the initiator methionine of exon 1 is not maintained in this transcript, suggesting that, if this transcript is functional, either the methionine in exon 2 or non-methionine codons are used in order to produce a protein product, in similarity to what has been proposed for the alternative spliced products of human PTCH1 (Hahn et al., Cell 85, supra). By radiation hybrid mapping the PTCH2 gene was localized to the short arm of chromosome 1, in difference to PTCH1 residing on chromosome 9q22.3.

[0082] The mouse and zebrafish homologs of PTCH2 have been reported to be expressed in a partly overlapping pattern with PTCH1 during embryonic development and to be induced by SHH (Motoyama et al., (1998) Nature Genet. 18, supra, Concordet, J. P., Lewis, K. E., Moore, J. W., Goodrich, L. V., Johnson, R. L., Scott, M. P., and Ingham, P. W. (1996): “Spatial regulation of a zebrafish patched homologue reflects the roles of sonic hedgehog and protein kinase A in a neural tube and somite patterning”, Development 122, 2835-2846), implicating a role in this signalling pathway. We were with this background interested to analyze the expression of PTCH2 in BCCs which show consistent upregulation of PTCH1 in all tumor cells (Undén et al., (1997) Cancer res. 57, supra). In situ hybridisation was performed on six familial and four sporadic BCCs of different histological subtypes. A strong positive signal for PTCH2 mRNA was observed exclusively in the tumor cells of all BCCs. Notably, the signal was consistently stronger in the palisading peripheral cells of the tumor nests (FIG. 2 ). These cells also showed a positive immunostaining for the cell proliferation marker, Ki-67.

[0083] The finding that in BCCs having frequent mutations in the PTCH1 gene, the expression of the PTCH2 mRNAs is upregulated, tightly links the novel PTCH2 according to the invention with the PTCH/SHH cascade of signalling events. It is therefore likely that PTCH2 represents a target gene of this pathway which is under the negative regulation of PTCH1, precisely as PTCH1 itself. Moreover this observation strongly suggests that PTCH2 has functions distinct from PTCH1 since upregulation of PTCH2 expression appears unable to compensate for inactive PTCH1 protein. This conclusion is also supported by the early embryonic lethality seen in PTCH1

[0084] (−/−) mice 5,13) and the lack of genetic heterogeneity in Gorlin syndrome. However, whether PTCH2 may block the constitutive signalling of SMO, or could act as an additional SHH receptor, possible dependent on alternative splicing, remains as the subject of further experimentation. 

1. An isolated human protein capable of participating in the human PTCH/SHH pathway during embryonic development and/or carcinogenesis, which is essentially comprised of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 2. An isolated human protein capable of participating in the human PTCH/SHH pathway during embryonic development and/or carcinogenesis, which comprises at least about 1000 amino acids as listed in SEQ ID NO:1.
 3. An isolated human protein capable of participating in the human PTCH/SHH pathway during embryonic development and/or carcinogenesis, which comprises at least about 1040 amino acids as listed in SEQ ID NO: 1
 4. An isolated human protein capable of participating in the human PTCH/SHH pathway during embryonic development and/or carcinogenesis, which comprises at least about 1100 amino acids as listed in SEQ ID NO:1.
 5. A medicament, comprising: a protein according to any of claims 1-4, or a nucleic acid encoding a protein according to any of claims 1-4.
 6. A method of treating a condition involving tumors, comprising: administering a protein according to any of claims 1-4, or a nucleic acid encoding a protein according to any of claims 1-4 to a patient in need thereof.
 7. A method of in vitro or in vivo diagnosis, wherein a protein according to any of claims 1-4, or a nucleic acid encoding a protein according to any of claims 1-4, is used.
 8. A method of screening wherein a library of suitable candidate compounds is screened for modified drugs using a protein according to any of claims 1-4, as a lead compound.
 9. A method of synthesis of a modified drug, wherein a protein according to any of claims 1-4 is used.
 10. A modified drug identified by the method according to claim 8, or synthesized according to claim
 9. 11. An antibody which specifically binds to a protein according to any of claims 1-4.
 12. A recombinant cell expressing an antibody according to claim
 11. 13. A kit for the detection of a human PTCH2 polypeptide comprising in a container a molecule selected from the group consisting of a protein according to any of claims 1-4, or an antibody which specifically binds to a protein according to any of claims 1-4.
 14. Use of a nucleic acid encoding a protein according to any of claims 1-4, in gene therapy.
 15. Use of a nucleic acid encoding a protein according to any of claims 1-4 as a probe, a primer, or a diagnostic reagent. 